I think Lilah has kennel cough :( - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Sukey · 03-24-2014, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I am not sure THAT is a gamble you may want to take. Kennel cough CAN last for months and make your pup very sick....pneumonia is a grave concern with this. The longer you wait, or if you decide to "let it clear up on its own", you are going to be watching a very miserable baby, with an annoying, sickening cough for months on end....not something I would want to sit around and watch happening to one of my babies. And of course, if you are wrong, and it goea into pneumonia, you could loose her.

I wasn't saying "I" was going to just wait it out....I was just saying that is what I've read online from veterinarians.

Yorkiemom1 · 03-24-2014, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sukey

the antibiotic will only work if it's a bacterial strain.....but the vet can also give them cough suppressants, steroids etc.

The antibiotic is not to cure the kennel cough but rather to keep the possibility of pneumonia at a minimum, or to start treating the pneumonia that may be present if it is an advanced case of the kennel cough virus.

Sukey · 03-24-2014, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

The antibiotic is not to cure the kennel cough but rather to keep the possibility of pneumonia at a minimum, or to start treating the pneumonia that may be present if it is an advanced case of the kennel cough virus.

ah, good to know. Thanks!

Sukey · 03-24-2014, 07:26 AM

I just read this:

Will My Dog Get Better Quicker If My Veterinarian Dispenses Antibiotics?

Just like the colds you get, kennel cough in your pet will almost always get better on its own with time. In uncomplicated cases, where your pet's energy level is not affected, antibiotics will not make your dog stop coughing any sooner. What antibiotics will do, is produce a group of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in your household. Bacteria normally transfer from your pet to you and from you to your pet. When your non-canine family members or your pet later need to fight life-threatening illnesses, these antibiotics may no longer work. This problem is called antibiotic resistance. It is tough for veterinarians to send concerned pet owners home without a bottle of something. Please do not encourage us to do that.

And:
Treatment is generally limited to symptomatic relief of the coughing with non-prescription, and occasionally prescription, cough suppressants. If the dog is running a fever or there seems to be a persistent and severe cough, antibiotics are occasionally utilized to assist the dog in recovering from Kennel Cough. It can happen that secondary bacterial invaders will complicate a case of Kennel Cough and prolong the recovery and severely affect the upper airway. Therefore, the use of antibiotics is determined on an individual basis.

And:
Most cases of infectious trachobronchitis are caused by multiple agents, and the main concern is to keep it from progressing to pneumonia. Most dogs can weather a bout of "kennel cough" (essentially a doggie cold) and recover without intervention, but medication can make them more comfortable and can prevent disease progression. Cough suppressants may be useful if the cough is so severe that it disrupts sleep, and antibiotics are often given to eliminate the bacterial component and to prevent progression to pneumonia.

So it sounds like it's completely dependent on the vet you see and if they believe in prescribing an antibiotic as a precaution, or if they prefer to wait a week and see if symptoms improve (and if not, then prescribe an antibiotic).

I just want to say thanks to everyone for being worried about my baby. Rest assured she is very well taken care of and receives vet care when needed (I took her 2 weeks ago for a "well check" just to have her weight checked, make sure she was growing ok etc).

Maximo · 03-24-2014, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sukey

she wasn't given the kennel cough vaccine (in 25 years I have never given it unless my dog had to be boarded (once) and it was required)

The strange thing is around 2 am all the coughing stopped and she is running around playing, eating, drinking this morning and not a single cough

I wonder if she did have a little piece of something stuck in her throat (piece of a leaf from outside etc) or if she'll be like my kids and have her cough disappear during the day and show up at night

Either way, I'm watching her like a hawk and if any coughing starts up off to the vet we go.

Happy to hear that Lilah is doing well and that the coughing stopped. Could be that she did have something her throat. Max does this every once in awhile with a leaf or hair fuzzy, but he doesn't cough for very long or very hard. One time it was so bad that I thought he was choking and brought him to the ER. He did end up with a severely irritated throat and had to be treated for it.

HeidiLee · 03-27-2014, 03:51 PM

I know this was already resolved, but out of curiosity, when she went to the vet did she get spayed? Or any other procedure that required an endotracheal tube?

Sukey · 03-28-2014, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeidiLee

I know this was already resolved, but out of curiosity, when she went to the vet did she get spayed? Or any other procedure that required an endotracheal tube?

She doesn't get spayed until 4/8....no procedures done at all

Lilah Charm · 03-28-2014, 06:51 PM

I am taking care of a yorkie mix right now who is at the tail end of fourteen days of doxycycline tx for kennel cough (she had a rough start in life). My lilah has been vaccinated against it but I know we are due for an update soon as it is every six months. My understanding was that some painful tracheal damage can occur from the frequent coughing, I had heard about the robutissin but I think this girl is past the coughing stage. I am grateful that we vaccinated, lilah is so tiny, it would be so hard on her!

Sukey · 03-28-2014, 07:05 PM

On Monday night we adopted (from the rescue I volunteer with) a 4-ish year old poodle mix who currently has kennel cough. She has been on doxy (routine treatment at the rescue) and isn't too sick--only coughs/sneezes a few times a day.

She actually had been vaxed for KC recently but got it anyway. She is currently quarantined in my room as suggested by the vet who wasn't too concerned about the other dogs getting it but said if we could keep them separated it was worth a try.

Maximo · 03-28-2014, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sukey

On Monday night we adopted (from the rescue I volunteer with) a 4-ish year old poodle mix who currently has kennel cough. She has been on doxy (routine treatment at the rescue) and isn't too sick--only coughs/sneezes a few times a day.

She actually had been vaxed for KC recently but got it anyway. She is currently quarantined in my room as suggested by the vet who wasn't too concerned about the other dogs getting it but said if we could keep them separated it was worth a try.

Congratulations again on the new addition to your family. If I have understood correctly what I have read in this forum before, some dogs can actually come down with KC as a result of receiving the vaccine.

I also believe your other pups should be okay if they do not come into contact with the saliva/nose drops from coughing and sneezing.

Sukey · 03-28-2014, 07:17 PM

thanks Kristen

I make sure that I wash my hands after handling our new girl but don't go as far as changing clothes etc. Kinda like how I separate my kids when they are sick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximo

Congratulations again on the new addition to your family. If I have understood correctly what I have read in this forum before, some dogs can actually come down with KC as a result of receiving the vaccine.

I also believe your other pups should be okay if they do not come into contact with the saliva/nose drops from coughing and sneezing.

crazydoglade · 03-29-2014, 04:03 AM

Our rescue doesn't vaccinate puppies for kc. They use a live virus and in the past when we did vacccinate we had a high incidence of kc. Our adult dogs are vaccinated but frequently have kcanyway, especially if we get them from a shelter. Those are isolated for 2 weeks and treated with doxyciline to help prevent a secondary bacterial infection. We usually have good luck with preventing the spred of the disease. There are multiple strains of kc and not all are covered by the vaccines. Any dog with symptoms, reguardless of age is treated.

03-27-2014, 03:51 PM	#21
HeidiLee Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: CA, USA Posts: 13	I know this was already resolved, but out of curiosity, when she went to the vet did she get spayed? Or any other procedure that required an endotracheal tube? __________________ Radar : Sybil<<<<8>~ : Basil<<<<8>~ : Pinkerton<<<<8>~ : Slytherus Snake<<<<8>~ :

03-28-2014, 06:51 PM	#23
Lilah Charm Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,721	I am taking care of a yorkie mix right now who is at the tail end of fourteen days of doxycycline tx for kennel cough (she had a rough start in life). My lilah has been vaccinated against it but I know we are due for an update soon as it is every six months. My understanding was that some painful tracheal damage can occur from the frequent coughing, I had heard about the robutissin but I think this girl is past the coughing stage. I am grateful that we vaccinated, lilah is so tiny, it would be so hard on her! __________________ Alyssa and Lilah

03-24-2014, 07:26 AM	#19
Sukey YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Exton, PA USA Posts: 343	I just read this: Will My Dog Get Better Quicker If My Veterinarian Dispenses Antibiotics? Just like the colds you get, kennel cough in your pet will almost always get better on its own with time. In uncomplicated cases, where your pet's energy level is not affected, antibiotics will not make your dog stop coughing any sooner. What antibiotics will do, is produce a group of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in your household. Bacteria normally transfer from your pet to you and from you to your pet. When your non-canine family members or your pet later need to fight life-threatening illnesses, these antibiotics may no longer work. This problem is called antibiotic resistance. It is tough for veterinarians to send concerned pet owners home without a bottle of something. Please do not encourage us to do that. And: Treatment is generally limited to symptomatic relief of the coughing with non-prescription, and occasionally prescription, cough suppressants. If the dog is running a fever or there seems to be a persistent and severe cough, antibiotics are occasionally utilized to assist the dog in recovering from Kennel Cough. It can happen that secondary bacterial invaders will complicate a case of Kennel Cough and prolong the recovery and severely affect the upper airway. Therefore, the use of antibiotics is determined on an individual basis. And: Most cases of infectious trachobronchitis are caused by multiple agents, and the main concern is to keep it from progressing to pneumonia. Most dogs can weather a bout of "kennel cough" (essentially a doggie cold) and recover without intervention, but medication can make them more comfortable and can prevent disease progression. Cough suppressants may be useful if the cough is so severe that it disrupts sleep, and antibiotics are often given to eliminate the bacterial component and to prevent progression to pneumonia. So it sounds like it's completely dependent on the vet you see and if they believe in prescribing an antibiotic as a precaution, or if they prefer to wait a week and see if symptoms improve (and if not, then prescribe an antibiotic). I just want to say thanks to everyone for being worried about my baby. Rest assured she is very well taken care of and receives vet care when needed (I took her 2 weeks ago for a "well check" just to have her weight checked, make sure she was growing ok etc).

03-28-2014, 07:05 PM	#24
Sukey YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Exton, PA USA Posts: 343	On Monday night we adopted (from the rescue I volunteer with) a 4-ish year old poodle mix who currently has kennel cough. She has been on doxy (routine treatment at the rescue) and isn't too sick--only coughs/sneezes a few times a day. She actually had been vaxed for KC recently but got it anyway. She is currently quarantined in my room as suggested by the vet who wasn't too concerned about the other dogs getting it but said if we could keep them separated it was worth a try.

03-29-2014, 04:03 AM	#27
crazydoglade YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: california Posts: 405	Our rescue doesn't vaccinate puppies for kc. They use a live virus and in the past when we did vacccinate we had a high incidence of kc. Our adult dogs are vaccinated but frequently have kcanyway, especially if we get them from a shelter. Those are isolated for 2 weeks and treated with doxyciline to help prevent a secondary bacterial infection. We usually have good luck with preventing the spred of the disease. There are multiple strains of kc and not all are covered by the vaccines. Any dog with symptoms, reguardless of age is treated.